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OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical effects of thick-needle therapy (TNT) and acupuncture therapy (AT) on patients with Bell's palsy (BP) at the recovery stage.@*METHODS@#A total of 146 eligible participants from 3 hospitals in China were randomized into the TNT group (73 cases) and the AT group (73 cases) using a central randomization. Both groups received Western medicine thrice a day for 4 weeks. Moreover, patients in the TNT group received subcutaneous insertion of a thick needle into Shendao (GV 11) acupoint, while patients in the AT group received AT at acupoints of Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yangbai (GB 14), Dicang (ST 4), Xiaguan (ST 7), Jiache (ST 6), Yingxiang (LI 20) and Hegu (LI 4), 4 times a week, for 4 weeks. Both groups received 2 follow-up visits, which were arranged at 1 month and 3 months after treatment, respectively. The primary outcome measure was House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System (HBFNGS) grade. And the clinical recovery rates of both groups were evaluated according to the HBFNGS grades after treatment. The secondary outcome measures included the facial disability index (FDI) and electroneurogram (EnoG). The adverse events were observed and recorded in both groups.@*RESULTS@#Three cases withdrew from the trial, 2 in the TNT group and 1 in the AT group. There was no signifificant difference in the clinical recovery rates between the TNT and AT groups after 4-week treatment [40.85% (29/71) vs. 34.72% (25/72), P>0.05]. At the 2nd follow-up visit, more patients in the TNT group showed reduced HBFNGS grades than those in the AT group (P0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The clinical effect of TNT was equivalent to that of AT in patients with BP at recovery stage, while the post-treatment effect of TNT was superior to that of AT. (Registration No. ChiCTR-INR-16008409).
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Objective To compare the clinical efficacies of transverse insertion of a thick needle into point Shendao(GV11) versus conventional acupuncture in treating facial neuritis of different durations.Method Two hundred and twenty patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to thick needle and tradition groups. The two groups separately received corresponding treatment in addition to oral administration of Western medicine. The therapeutic effects were evaluated using the House-Brackmann rating scale and the Portmann's Simple Scale (RPA) for facial symptoms and compared after two courses of treatment.Result The therapeutic effect was better, posttreatment H-B rating scale score was lower and posttreatment RPA score was higher in the thick needle group than in the tradition group; there were statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Different durations of disease affected the therapeutic effect. In the thick needle group, the therapeutic effect was better in the patients in the early stage than in the middle and late stages; there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The cure rate was higher in the patients in the early and middle stages in the thick needle group than in the tradition group; there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion Transverse insertion of a thick needle into point Shendao has a definite therapeutic effect on facial neuritis. It is safe, easily performed and of an advantage over conventional acupuncture.
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Objective To observe the effect of penetrating needling with thick needle at Shenzhu (GB 12) on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score in patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Methods Sixty-one PD patients were randomized into a treatment group of 31 cases and a control group of 30 cases. The treatment group was intervened by penetrating needling with thick needle at Shenzhu (GV 12) in addition to oral administration of Levodopa and Benserazide Hydrochloride;while the control group was by oral administration of Levodopa and Benserazide Hydrochloride alone. The UPDRS was evaluated before and after intervention in both groups. Results Respectively after 30-day treatment, 90-day treatment, and 90 d after the intervention, the UPDRS scores were significantly changed compared to that before intervention in both groups (P<0.01, P<0.05);there were also significant differences in comparing the UPDRS score between the two groups at each time point (P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusions Penetrating needling with thick needle at Shenzhu (GV 12) can improve the UPDRS score in PD patients, and it’s an effective method in treating PD.
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0.05).The successful rates of weaning from MV of embedment group(60%,75%) were significantly higher than those of control group(30%,35%) and traditional needle group(25%,30%) in the 2 nd and 4 th week after treatment(all P